I’ve been getting a recurring question lately: “Will you sign this Non Disclosure Agreement before I tell you about the invention I want you to write a patent application for?” Sometimes, the question is phrased, “how much do you charge…
A business doesn’t necessarily own everything created by its workers. The question of ownership comes down to many factors, chief among them being the presence of an employment contract. Employees typically produce work that is owned by the business –…
Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to protect your photos once you’ve uploaded them to the web. Your ability to control how people use your images depends on a few things. If you’re posting them on a photo-sharing site like Flickr or…
Patently-O did the work, and I’m happy to reprint it. It’s no secret that getting a patent is a lengthy process: Current Patent Office estimates show that it has been taking, on average, between 1.95 and 3.98 years for the…
I’ve posted a basic description of the patenting process, from inventing to maintaining the patent. The video is a visual explanation of how an invention forms, how the patent application is prepared, filed, and processed, and what to do when…
The difference between the two symbols ® and TM is whether the trademark has been registered with the federal government. A mark with a TM signifies a mark that hasn’t been registered; the ® symbol can only be used with…
Picking a trademark is no small matter, nor should it be. A trademark helps define a business’s image and can add significant value to your venture. It distinguishes your company and its products from all others. The report How to…
When you’ve come up with a new invention, and you need some help developing it – whether it be the designing, prototyping, or manufacturing of the invention – you need to use an NDA. Non-Disclosure Agreements are a crucial way…
I’ve now linked this blog to twitter. I’ll be sending out periodic updates from my blog on patent, trademark, and copyright news and tips.
A trademark registered with the federal government carries a number of advantages over one that has not been registered. First, only federally registered trademarks can be enforced in federal court – so if someone is using your mark illegally, you…